Twelve Cupcakes Shuts Down, Union Condemns Sudden Closure

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: BLOOMBERG

Popular bakery chain Twelve Cupcakes has abruptly ceased operations after being placed under provisional liquidation, according to an announcement on its website Wednesday. The closure affects multiple outlets across Singapore, including branches at Changi City, Sentosa, and Star Vista.

The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) said in a statement that it was informed of the company’s shutdown only on the day of the announcement, the same time employees were notified. The union expressed strong disapproval of the move, calling it “irresponsible” and a violation of due process.

“The union strongly objects to the business owner’s complete lack of prior consultation and advance notice of their decision,” FDAWU stated. It added that although Twelve Cupcakes is a unionised company, management failed to engage with the union early to explore alternatives or provide support for affected workers.

“While the decision may have been a commercial one, its execution was careless and failed to account for the human consequences,” the union said. “Workers are now struggling to find new employment on short notice and face uncertainty regarding owed payments.”

FDAWU General Secretary Sankaradass described the sudden closure as “completely unacceptable and unfair” to both the workers and the union. He confirmed that the union has reached out to the appointed liquidator to ensure workers’ claims are properly addressed.

Twelve Cupcakes was founded in 2011 by former radio DJ Daniel Ong and his then-wife Jaime Teo. The brand quickly gained popularity for its handcrafted cupcakes and grew into a household name across Singapore. After Ong and Teo’s divorce in 2016, they sold the business to India-based conglomerate Dhunseri Group.

The closure marks the end of a once-thriving local bakery brand that had expanded rapidly across the island before financial troubles forced it into liquidation.